Pipe joint



Nov. 6, E951 A. A. HICKMAN ETAL PIPE JOINT Filed Sept. 12.. 1947Patented Nov. 6, 1951 PIPE JOINT Augustus A. Hickman, Brooklyn, andLawrence O. Henderson and Alfred Patrlacco, New York,

Application September 12, 1947, Serial No. 773,580

1 claim. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in lubricationapplicators.

The invention provides a device comprising relatively few, rugged,inexpensive Iand readily interchangeable parts whereby the latter can bevariously arranged to produce one type of lubrication applicator oradapter for acting in an ideal way in connection with certainlubrication tasks or to produce another type of lubrication applicatoror adapter for acting in an ideal way in connection with certain otherlubrication tasks; with the result that the invention may be said toprovide a universal applicator or adapter, in the sense that, accordingas the parts are arranged in one assembly or another, proper coaction ofthe applicator will be had with different lubrication problems to beencountered wherever a lubricant is .to be applied, such, for instance,as are found in all types of industrial machines, in the aeronauticaleld, and in connection with farm implements and automotive vehicles.

A feature of the device is that with all the parts used in one of saidassemblies, and with less than all the parts used in the other assembly,merely five parts in all are employed.

Another feature is that two of the five parts are used in bothassemblies, while only three parts are used in one of the assemblies.

A further feature is that no yieldable washers, gaskets or the like arepresent. and so long-continued perfect operability of the device is notdependent on renewal and replacement of the comparatively short-livedelements just referred to. The merely five parts are all of metal; threedesirably of brass or the like, and two desirably of a harder metal, assteel. The functions of the ve parts are such that with the twolastmentioned parts of a hard metal, as steel, to minimize wear thereon,the entire device will be of exceedingly long life despite some gradualwear of the parts other than the steel ones.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawing, and to the appended claim in which the Variousnovel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l shows, partially in elevation and partially in section, one ofthe aforesaid two parts used in both assemblies, this part being alubricant discharge nozzle-member which desirably is made of steel.

Fig. Z is a similar view, showing the other of the aforesaid two partsused in both assemblies; this part being a base-sleeve which desirablyis made of brass.

Fig. 3 shows, in full lines, and partially in elevation and partially insection, the complementary casing-sleeve, also desirably made of brass,used in only one of the assemblies; this view also illustrating saidassembly, in which latter the parts of Figs. 1 and 2 are indicated indot and dash lines. Y

Fig. 4 shows said assembly in axial section,

and as coupled to a lubricating feeding means shown in elevation.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation, showing a spring chuck, the other of the twoparts desirably made of steel, such chuck being used only in theassembly other than the one shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a. top plan view of the chuck.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged view, being a section taken on eitherof the lines 'I-'I or 'Ii- JIa of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 shows, partially in elevation and partially in section, acasing-sleeve, also desirably made of brass but longer than thecasing-sleeve of Fig.

3, and substituted for the latter in the assembly other than the oneshown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing the assembly lastreferred to, and also, in dot and dash lines, use of this assembly inconnection with a familiar lubricant intake tting having a ball-shapednipple and frequently referred to as the Zerk type of intake tting. Y

The lubrication applicator, according to the rst form of the presentinvention shown in Figs. 1 to 4, includes a nozzle I5 having acylindrical 'stem I6 and a conical upper portion I'I.4 At its bottomsaid nozzle member has a cylindrical base I8. At the pointed upper tipof the nozzle member is a discharge port I 9, to which lubricant isadapted to be supplied through a passage extending axially of the memberI5; said passage comprising an upwardly tapered bottom portion 20, abovesaid bottom portion a bore 2| of the same diameter as the minimumdiameter of such taper, and, between the bore 2I and the port I9, a bore22 of smaller diameter than the bore 2|.

This nozzle I5 is preferably made of steel; the steel recommended beingdrill rod, heat-treated to obtain maximum hardness.

The base-sleeve, marked as a whole 23, is made of brass as above, and isa cylindrical part turnable from round rod stock. The same comprises alower portion 24, circumferentially enlarged intermediate its ends andthere having a coarse'knurling 25, and an upper dlametrically reducedportion 26, capped by a iiat dise formation 21 and therebelow having anexternal thread 23. The lower portion 24 is cylindrically chambered at29, and there provided with an internal thread 39. Extended between thetop of the chamber 29 and the top of the base-sleeve 23, axiallythereof, there is a passage 3l of circular cross section.

To complete the assembly indicated in Fig. 4, a casing-sleeve 32, isprovided. This part, also, is made of brass, and also is a cylindrical`piece turnable from round rod stock.

The casing-sleeve 32 comprises amain body 33,l circumferentiallyenlarged at its bottom and there coarse-knurled as at 34. The lowerportion of said body is cylindrically chambered at 35, the lower part ofsaid chamber having an internal thread 36. The chamber 35 above saidthread is of a diameter to aord a snug sliding iit around the base I8 ofthe nozzle member I5. Above said chamber and coaxial therewith is an-axial bore 31 of a diameter to aiord a snug sliding fit around thestern I6 of the nozzle member. The thread 36 matches the thread 28 onthe base-sleeve 23.

To assemble the parts as shown in Fig. 4, the nozzle member I is merelyinserted upward all the way into the casing-sleeve 32, thereby toproject beyond the top of the latter the upper portion of the stem I6;and then the base-sleeve 23 is applied, and the parts are lockedtogether 'as shown by spirally tightening the base-sleeve 23 in thecasing-sleeve 32.

The 'internal thread 30 of the base-sleeve 23 matches the standardexternal thread of the ntment provided at the discharge end of aflexible hose leading from a lubricant supply source, as a hand-pump, ora lubricant tank served by compressed air or other pressure agent. InFig. 4, such a tment 38, on the discharge end of a iiexible hose 39 froma lubricant supply source, is

Vshown inserted in and threadedly coupled with the base-sleeve 23.

The relatively large opening in thefltment 38, as vcompared withthe'size of the passages through the base-sleeve 23 vand the nozzlemember I5, to 'the `tiny port I9, and the fact that 'the passage,(-24--21 Fig. l) through the part I5 is first 'upwardly tapered andthereabove further stepped down in diameter, resultin a high pressurebuildup, so that the lubricant issuing .from the port I9 is dischargedunder exceedingly/"high pressure.

The assembly just described is used, `for example, for the lubricationof metal or leather covered springs, such as are commonlyencountered inautomobiles. Where such covering is of metal,

la one-quarter inch lubrication hole is, as is well known, provided inthe covering under the rear spring leaf. V'Io lubricate thespring, thepointed vprojected end of the nozzle member I5 is inserted through saidhole and thus penetrates the canvas backing laid over the spring. Whenthe springis fully grease-packed, the overflow can be noted at the endof the spring and shackle.

are also used, but for the casing-sleeve 32 there is substituted -a'longer casing-sleeve 40, and lthere is added to the assembly the springchuck The chuck 4I, of collet type, is made of the steel known as Maxel#4, heat-treated for temper. The chuck is cylindrical, having a centralbore 42 which is cylindrical up to the point where near the top of thechuck the internal annular formations 43 and 44 are provided. Spaced 90apart around the chuck are four long straight 'slots 45, all parallelwith the axis of the chuck.

and extending from the top thereof down to near the top of a bottomcircumferential enlargement 45.

The slots 45 provide four stitlly resilient ngers 46 for constitutingthe upper end portions thereof spring jaws for releasably gripping aball-shaped nipple of a size to be forcibly-entered into and withdrawnfrom the gripping pocket 41 established between the formations 43 and44. Said object is the ball-shaped nipple of the aforesaid Zerk type oflubricant intake fitting; this iitting being shown in dot and dash linesat the top of Fig. 9, where the fitting is marked 49 and and the nipple49V.

The longer casing-sleeve 40 is also made of brass, and also is acylindrical part turnable from 5/5'4 round rod stock. This casing-sleeve40 intermediate its ends has acircumferential enlargement coarse-knurledas at 50; and centrally thereof said part has an upper bore 5I and asomewhat `smaller vlower bore 52, the latter having an internal thread53 matching the external kthread 28 at the upper portion of thebase-slve 23. Between the bores 5I and 52 there is an internal annularrib 54 having fla-t top and vbottom surfaces and surrounding anintermediate bore 55 coaxial with the bores 5I and 52.

In the assembly of Fig. 9, the parts I5, 4l, 40

land 23 are arranged as there shown; with Ithe spring jaws of the chuck'4I having :their tops within and almost at the level of the `top of thecasing-sleeve `4l), and with the chuck thus positioned as the result ofits enlargement 4.5' being disposed between the annular rib 54 in'saidcasing sleeve and the enlargement I8 at the bottom of the nozzle memberI5 now housed in the chuck, and as the result of completing the assemblyby coupling into the same the base-sleeve 23 and spirally tightening upthe latter.

`The bore surrounded by the annular `rib 54 (that is, the bore 55 ofFig. 8) is of a diameter to aord la snug sliding iit around the mainupper length of the chuck 4I, and the cylindrical bore through the chuck(that is. the bore 42 of Fig. "1) is of a diameter to afford `a snugsliding fit around the stem I6 of the nozzle member I5, 'while theengagement between the top `of the base-sleeve 23 and thebase of thenozzle member Yis the same flatwise and lubricant-tightvone as in theassembly of Fig. 4.

With this assembly of Fig. 9, as with .that of Fig. 4, both includingthe base-.sleeve 23, may be coupled up the standard parts 3B and 39 asshown, for vsupplying lubricant under pressure to the various passagesleading to the discharge port I9.

the nozzle member I5 enters into the lubricant inlet port (not shown) atend ofthe ball-shaped nipple-'41.

Now, a perfect union being effected .between such inlet port and thenozzle member I5, with leakage here not permitted, the grease is drivenunder very high pressure through the intake tting and into the parts tobe lubricated. What are known to auto-mechanics as frozen shackles areimmediately lubricated, without the use of a bar. In the event that whatis called an impossible frozen shackle, the device of the invention willstop compressor operation without the loss of grease.

In the case of automotive vehicles, to continue to point out theadvantages of the invention in that field alone for instance, completelubrication of any type of vehicle may be usually accomplished in fromseven to ten minutes, depending upon the speed of the operator.

The device contains no Washers, gaskets or springs. All possible wear ismetal against metal. The only part possibly requiring replacement is thenozzle member l5, and this only after long and continuous Wear and hardusage, as where a careless operator neglects to wipe all ttings. Whengiven ordinary careful use, this nozzle member will have a life measuredby at least ve hundred complete lubrication jobs. When properlytempered, the chuck will have an incalculably long life. As for thebrass parts, only a loss of any of such will necessitate a replacement.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of ourinvention, it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to theprecise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to allchanges and modications coming within the scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claim.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is:

A combination lubrication adapter including a base-sleeve chambered andinternally threaded for attachment to an externally threaded lubricantsupplying fltment associated with a lubricant source means, acasing-sleeve, said two sleeves having coacting threads whereby they maybe coupled end to end, a nozzle member insertable within saidcasing-sleeve, said nozzle provided with a pointed end having adischarge port associated therewith, a passage through the length of thenozzle communicating with the discharge port, stop means associated withsaid nozzle comprising a circumferential shoulder dened intermediate thelengthof said nozzle by an enlarged base end formed integrally with saidnozzle remote to said discharge port, stop means in the casing-sleevecomprising a circumferential shoulder formed internally thereof andintermediate the length of the sleeve, and means asso-V ciated with thebase-sleeve for impingement upon the enlarged base end of the nozzlewhereby coactive rotation of said threaded sleeves will impart rotationto said nozzle and the subsequent impingement of the two aforementionedstop means.

AUGUSTUS A. HICKMAN.

LAWRENCE O. HENDERSON.

ALFRED PATRIACCO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 16,450 Phillips Jan. 20, 18571,734,288 Davis Nov. 5, 1929 2,056,249 Bystricky Oct. 6, 1936 2,274,251Stanley Feb. 24, 1942

